Wood Gloat

[MrPukaShell]

I received an email from on of the local tree trimming businesses that they had some Ornamental Flowering Pear logs available. I went over Thursday after work to check out what they had. There were three pieces, 2 10 inch diameter by 2 1/2 feet long and one larger crotch piece 14 inches in diameter and a little over two feet long but heavy as heck. So I grabbed one of the smaller logs as I did not want to take a chance with the back. When I got home I cut it up into 6 bowl blanks. The wood cut awesome and had nice color so I started dreaming about that large crotch piece. There I am Friday morning before work wrestling that big old log into the trunk of a Ford Escort. When I got home I asked my visiting big and strong 22 year old son to go out and get the log out of the trunk of my car. He came back in a few minutes later shaking his head and had a couple of questions. First, how did you get that in your car and second, he wanted some help. I can tell you one thing, it was harder getting it out of there with two people that it getting it in there with one (although I was spent after getting it in there). Got it cut up last night and will be getting two more blanks sharing the crotch & two large bowl blanks. Another awesome save from the chipper........

 

[JimB]

Nice haul.

 

[Gary Zakian]

Great find and great looking wood. I am especially interested to see what you do with the crotch wood pieces.

Gary Zakian

 

[robutacion]

Not bad, not bad at all...!

Didn't you say that you left the crotch piece there, because you didn't wanted to do your back...??? what did change the second time around and what did you take with you the make the job easier...? (mind you, I already know the answer...)

I also see that you struggle a bit to work the log into blanks using the chainsaw, my suggestion is, mainly if you want to safe your back, your toes and something else possibly, make yourself/ get one made, one of these George's still arms (log vice) and you will appreciate that you did, believe me...!:biggrin:

Have fun...!

PS: I put only a couple pics here, if you want to see more and gets all the measurements, go to my web site, address on my signature, bellow!:wink:

Cheers
George

 

[MrPukaShell]

I have never seen anything like this before, but what a great ides. Now off to that web site. Thanks for sharing

 

[randyrls]

George that is great looking wood!

I took a look at the slabbing vise. Excellent work.

I also liked the egg jig.

 

[nava1uni]

Your website is very interesting. You are very inventive. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and your pieces are beautiful

 

[markgum]

great find

 

[TellicoTurning]

I received an email from on of the local tree trimming businesses that they had some Ornamental Flowering Pear logs available.

If that's the Ornamental Flower Pear like we have here, it's Bradford Pear... has a nice light yellowish pinkish color when fresh cut, but turn a golden tan color as it's exposed to air... really nice solid and heavy wood with a nice close grain... it will can internal inclusions... it's prone to cracking if you turn it too early. We have them all over East Tennessee here as ornamental trees, but after they a few years old and pretty good size, the winds here will twist and crack them at the joints... my neighbor just took down 3 that were split from the wind.... he used most of it in his fireplace, but I got a few pieces to turn.... it does make some nice turnings.

I mostly turn it green and then soak in DNA for a couple of day, then dry of a month or so... most of what I have had was smaller, but I did get one bowl that was about 10 inches diameter x about 5 deep...


Anyway you cut it, that's a nice haul and you'll enjoy working with the wood... happy turning!

 

[David Keller]

One of my favorite turning woods... It cuts like butter when wet and hold detail extremely well. Great gloat!